Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Note: Although I have
subdivided the genres into fifty subgenres, be aware that the “line” is neither
hard nor fast. Many of the subgenres crosses territories both within a main
genre (e.g. many gothic novels also have elements of paranormal or
psychological horror) as well as between the main genres (e.g. romantic
suspense is a mix between suspense and romance).

Adventure

High Seas

Adventures
occurring on the oceans, often involving piracy. Example: Treasure Island by Robert
Louis Stevenson

Western

Adventures set in the UnitedState’s
Old West. Example: Work of Zane Gray

Survivalist

Adventures
focused on a stranded protagonist trying to survive the forces of nature.
Examples: Robinson Caruso by Daniel
Defoe, Swiss Family Robinson by
Johann Wyss.

Animal Tales

Adventures
about animals, often written from the animal’s point of view. Example: Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Contemporary

Women’s Fiction

Stories
focused on the real-world problems of women, such as raising a family or
dealing with aging parents. Example: The work of Karen Kingsbury

Amish

Stories
set in and around Amish communities. Example: Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning

Sports

Stories
about the sports world. Examples: the film Miracle
on Ice, The Youngest Hero by
Jerry Jenkins

Social Commentary

Stories
focused on understanding social trends. Examples: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Coming of Age

Stories
focused on the struggles of protagonist’s transition from childhood to
adulthood. Example: Harper Lee’s To Kill
a Mockingbird

Fantasy

Alternate Reality

Stories
where real-world characters travel to another world. Example: The Chronicles of
Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Epic/High Fantasy

Traditional
fantasy about a quest. Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Fairytale

Medieval-styled
stories often about princes, princesses and kingdoms; or retellings of classic
fairytales. Examples: the work of the Brothers Grimm and Has Christian
Anderson; Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Beast by Chawna Schroeder

Magical Realism/Urban Fantasy

Stories
with a real-world setting into which are inserted supernatural figures or
elements, like fairies in the modern world. Urban fantasies have specifically a
city setting. Examples: The Giver by
Lois Lowry, Knife by R. J. Anderson

Stories
with a strong supernatural element set in a futuristic or technologically
advanced world. Examples: the Star Wars film
series, Firebird by Kathy Tyers

Historical

Biblical

Stories
about biblical characters or set in biblical times. Examples: Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace

American

Historical
novels set in the United States,
or pertaining to U.S.
history. Example: Johnny Tremain by
Esther Forbes

International

Historical
novels set aboard, frequently in Europe during
the past century. Example: The Book Thief
by Markus Zuzak, The Zion
Chronicles by the Thoenes

Victorian & Regency

Historical
novels set in Victorian or Regency England, which are reminiscent of the work
by Jane Austen. Example: the work of Julie Klassen

Saga

Often
tracing the history of one family through several decades, though sometimes the
history of one place through many decades. Example: James A. Michener’s Centennial, The Forsyte Saga by John
Galsworthy

Historical Romance

Romance
in a historical period. Example: Gone
with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Horror

Gothic

Horror
stories set in a (pseudo)-medieval building and which often features death,
madness, and occasionally romance. Examples: WutheringHeights
by Emily Bronte, Fall of the House of
Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

Paranormal

Horror
stories employing supernatural elements for the fear factor, such as ghosts,
vampires, and zombies. Examples: The
Sixth Sense, the work of H. P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (also considered gothic)

Psychological

Horror
stories which trap you through mind games or making you doubt what is real.
Example: Silence of the Lambs by
Thomas Harris

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Disclaimers

Most of the books reviewed for this blog are bought or borrowed from a library. However, some (usually two dozen or less) each year are given to me free from the author or publisher.

I haven't previewed every book or other work of art that I included in my monthly arts lists. Many works are included for other reasons, such as insights to culture, making them worthwhile but perhaps containing questionable content. Therefore, use discernment when listening, reading, or viewing these pieces.